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GST debate intensifies as inflation rises, government proposes expanded exemptions

May 20, 2026 4 mins read
GST debate intensifies as inflation rises, government proposes expanded exemptions

Just five months into the new 5 percent GST regime, food inflation has soared to 6.83 percent, leaving consumers asking: where are the promised savings? While lawmakers push to exempt 22 new essential items like cooking oil and rice to protect the poor , tax officials warn that adding more exemptions will only invite massive tax evasion. Who is really winning here? The consumers or the businesses?

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